Members of the Stamford arts community listen as Connecticut Ballet artistic director Brett Raphael moderates a mayoral debate with David Martin (D), Michael Fedele (R) and Kathleen Murphy (I) on the arts on Friday, October 18, 2013 in Stamford, Conn.
Photo: Dru Nadler

Members of the Stamford arts community listen as Connecticut Ballet...

STAMFORD -- Art and music leaders bemoaned what they described as ongoing underfunding for their organizations, and demanded an improved commitment from the city's next administration during a mayoral debate hosted by the Connecticut Ballet Friday.

Connecticut Ballet CEO and Artistic Director Brett Raphael moderated the debate, which focused largely on the economic pressures facing the city's art, music and theater groups. Raphael kicked off the discussion by asking the candidates if they would restore funding to the city's Community Arts Partnership Program, which distributes grants to Stamford-based nonprofits that foster innovation in the arts.

"It's not just the arts community -- it's the underlying economy that we want to address, as well," Raphael said. "We've weathered many administrations and many changes."

Mayor Michael Pavia, who is not running for reelection, cut CAPP funding significantly over the last four years. The program distributed $50,000-worth of grants in 2012, nearly $100,000 less than the $147,000 former Mayor Dannel P. Malloy doled out during his last year in office.

Democratic candidate David Martin said he would seek to restore CAPP's funding because a vibrant cultural community helps bolster economic activity.

"The simple answer is yes," he said. "The more complex answer is, I have to see what the budget looks like, but that's my goal. When people come to the symphony they also go to the restaurants. That's part of the energy of downtown."

Republican candidate Michael Fedele said he would need to review the city's budget before committing to increasing CAPP funding. But he also pledged to support the arts, saying he'd be a "cheerleader" for Stamford programs.

"I'll be out there trying to get dollars from the corporate community," Fedele said.

Independent Kathleen Murphy, who is running as an unaffiliated petitioning candidate on the November ballot, said she supports the arts but believes the city is "broke" and will likely see its state funding cut next year.

"I would try to restore those (CAPP) funds," she said. "I'm expecting a very bad financial report this year from the auditors but I have not seen it. I can't make any commitments."

Joyce DiCamillo, executive director of the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic, told the three candidates that Stamford's arts community is in desperate need of support from its next mayor.

"The string program no longer exists in the elementary level," DiCamillo said. "Stamford cannot compete artistically with its neighbors in the area. What can you do from your bully pulpit to make sure the Board of Education starts to take a look at these things?"

Martin and Fedele each jockeyed to position themselves as the more qualified candidate. Fedele pointed to his background as a former state representative and lieutenant governor, experience he said he would use to attract state funding for arts programs.

"I'd work with the state government to see where we could help," he said. "I know the process, I know the hallways, I know some of the key players. It's going to be a challenge because of the current (economic) environment that we have."

Martin pointed to his nearly 30 years of experience on the Board of Representatives, where he worked to restore funding for the Stamford Coliseum Authority. The authority was charged with distributing city grants for tourism and the arts, which totaled $1 million in 1990.

"I stood for the arts then and I stand for them now," Martin said.

DiCamillo said arts groups hope the next mayor will pair corporate donations with public support to keep the humanities afloat in Stamford.

"We're well aware the budget has constraints," she said. "But there are public-private partnerships that can be made. That would be the major thing we would ask you for."

The mayoral race's fourth contender, unaffiliated petitioning candidate John Zito, did not attend Friday's debate although he was invited, Raphael said.